Tower-clock escapement.



A. M. GORDON.

TOWER CLOCK ESGAPEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1914.

1,109,581, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

WITNESSES l/VVEA/TOR flz/W MM THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHOU WASHING rON. D. C

A. M. GORDON.

TOWER CLOCK ESCAPEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1914.

1,109,581 Patented Sept. 1,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BB ,33 5/ El Z3 3;;

' A a /J W f: 1 7:

WITNESSES [N vmro/r 7 1. W a. 6

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTO'LITHO WASHINGTON. 3.

2 By Attorneys A. M. GORDON.

TOWER GLOOK ESGAPEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1914.

1,109,581, Patented Sept. 1,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G-[WM 5 THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO. WASHING ION. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M.

GORDON, F PLYMOUTH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 SETH THOMAS CLOCK 00., 0F THOMASTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

TOWER-CLOCK ESCAPEIJIENT.

7 'To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. GORDON,

citizen of the United States, residing at and which said drawings constitute part of this application, and represent, in

Figure 1 a view in elevation of a tower-' clock escapement constructed in accordance with myinvention, showing the pendulumrod partly broken away and swung to the extreme limitof its excursion to the right.

Fig. 2 a correspondingview with the pendulum-rod in its intermediate position.

Fig.3 aview in elevation of one of the modified forms which my invention may assume. Fig. 4 a view thereof in transverse section, looking downward.

My inventlon relates to an improvement in that class of tower-clock escapements in ,nately lifted by the. action of the power-' train and theirgravity action utilized to which two pivotal gravity-arms are altermaintain the motion of the pendulum-rod which in turn raises the arms for releasing the 'escapement-wheel which transmits the ,power ofthe train to the arms in initially lifting them. Escapements of the type described have been found objectionable for the ,reason that they have not sufficiently taken into account certain factors, (such, for instance, as wind-pressure upon the hands) causing such a sudden excess of power as to lift the gravity'arms with enough momentum to carry them into their positions in which they do not function, as designed, in

. controlling the predetermined vregular stepby-step movementof the escapement-wheel, resultingin the racing of the same and a failure of the clock to keep time.

The object of my present invention is to provide a tower-clock .escapement of the character described with means for checking the lifting of the gravity-arms under sudden accessions of power. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Application filed May 25, 1914. Serial No. 840,770.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in a tower-clock escapement' having two pivotal gravity-arms, one of which is provided with a checkingnnember preventing the said gravity-arms from being lifted beyond the predetermined positions within the limits of which the said gravity-arms control the locking of the escapement wheel.

My invention further consists in a towerclock escapement having two pivotal gravty-arms respectively provided with coacting checking-ar ns preventing the respective gravity-arms from being lifted beyondthe predetermined positions within the limits of which the said gravity-arms control the locking of the escapement-wheel.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts as willbe hereinafter described and" pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employ two corresponding checking-arms 2, 3, each provided at its inner end with an abutment-linger 4, the said fingers being respectively bent in opposite directions so as to form abutments each for the other under emergency conditions. The outer. ends of the said checking-arms 9 3, are respectively fastened by screws 5 or otherwise, to the lower ends of two pivotal gravity-arms 6 the upper ends of which are suspended by pivots 7 from a gravity-plate 8, forming a part of the clock-frame which is not shown. As shown, the escapement wheel consists of a hub 9 turning upon a shaft 10 and furnished withsix escapementspokes 11, though the number of such spokes The said is not material to my invention. hub 9 is also furnished with three liftingpins 12 arranged equidistant from each other around the shaft 10 and successively co-acting with lifting-arms 13 extending inward from the gravity-arms 6, the inner ends of the said arms 13 being separated from each other in the vertical plane by a distance determined by the sep ration of the lifting-pins 12. The outer ends of the es capement-spokes 11 are flattened to form locking-fingers 14; co acting with pallets 15 respectively secured in corresponding positions to the gravity-arms 6. The lower ends of the arms 6 are furnished, as usual, with studs 16 co-acting with the opposite faces of the pendulum-rod 17 the upper end of which is furnished with a top-nut 18 slotted as at 19 for the reception of the lower end of the pendulum-spring 20 the upper end of which is adjustably held between chops 21 clamped upon the spring 20 by means of chop-screws 22 mounted in arms 23 depending from what is called the top-girt, which is not shown. From the said arms 23 de pend the usual safety-hangers 24 receiving the ends of the pendulum-pin 25 which is passed through the spring 20 and through the top-nut 18 and secures the spring 20 thereto. It will be understood that the hangers 2-1 are only brought into play in case the spring 20 should break.

' Under normal conditions the gravity escapement mechanism herein described, operates in. the usual and well known manner, the arms 6 being alternately lifted into their intermediate positions by the pressure of the lifting-pins 12 upon .the ends of the lifting-arms 13, and being alternately lifted still higher into their unlocking positions by the pressure of thependulum-rod itself on the studs 16 in the lowerends of the arms 6. Thus when the pendulum-rod 17, swings from left to right to the limit of its excursion in that direction, it acts through the stud 16 of the right hand arm 6 to lift the same to its highest position and hence to release the escapement-spoke 11 at the time engaged with the pallet 15. t The moment the said spoke is released, the power of the power-train will act to turn the escapement wheel 9 through an are represented by one sixth of its entire rotary movement during which one of the lifting-pins 12 will co-act with the lifting-arm 13 of the left hand gravityarm 6 to raise the same into its intermediate position. Now as the endulumrod is swung by the gravity action of the right-hand arm 6 to the extreme limit of its excursion to the left, it will engage the stud 16 in the lower end of the left hand gravityarm 6 and raise the same to the limit of its raised position at which time it will release 7 capement-mechanism the interlocked checking-arms 2, 8, travel with respect to each other without developing any friction or performing any function. If, however, any sudden access .of power. should be thrown upon the escapement, tending to lift the pivotal gravity-arms by momentum beyond their highest or locking-positions, the fingers l of the checking-arms will be brought into abutment and limit the lifting of the arms 6 within the positions in which their pallets properly co-act with the escapement spokes of the escapement wheel so that any racing of the escapement-wheel is efi'ectually prevented and hence vagaries in the behavior of the clock.

It will be understood from the foregoing that my improved safety appliance only functions in emergencies where there is a sudden access of power, tending to carry the gravity-arms of the escapement beyond their locking positions. Under ordinary circumstances the mechanism acts as though the checking'arms were not present.

In the modified construction shown by Figs. 3 and 4, instead of employing two checking-arms, I employ a single checkingarm 26 secured by screws 27 to the lower end of" the right-hand pivotal gravity-arm 28 the corresponding arm 29 of which is furnished with an abutment 30 located in position to co-act with a checking-finger 31 formed by turning the free end of the arm 26 at a right angle. It will be readilv understood that the arm 26 will effectually operate to check any undue separation of the arms 28 and 29 beyond the predetermined positions of lifting movement within which they control the escapement of the escapement-wheel.

It is not essential that the checking-arms 2 and 3 or the checking-arm 26 be constructed in the particular manner shown and described, nor that they be applied to the lower ends of the pivotal gravlty-arms, my invention comprehending the employment of one or more checking-members however constructed and arranged, so long as they act as checks preventing the gravity-arms from being suddenly lifted into positions in which theydo not control the regular locking and releasing of the escapement-wheel.

I claim 1. In a tower-clock escapement, the combination with two gravity-arms, a pendulum-rod and an escapement-wheel, of checking means applied to one of the said arms to prevent the arms from being lifted beyond their locking-positions with respect to the escapement-wheel.

2. In a tower-clock escapement, the combination with two gravity-arms, a pendulum-rod and an escapement-wheel, of co-acting checking means applied to the respective arms to prevent the same from being lifted beyondtheirlocking positions with respect to the escapement wheel.

3. In a tower-clock escapement, the combination with two pivotal gravity-arms, a

are

pendulum-rod and an escapement-Wheeh of I In testimony whereof, I have signed this two checkingerins respectively applied to specification in the presence of two subscribthe gravity-arms and having their inner ing Witnesses.

ends adapted to constitute abutments each ARTHUR M. GORDON. 5 for the other to prevent the gravity-arms Witnesses:

from being carried by a sudden access of -WM. A. ARMOUR,

power, beyond their locking positions. LENA M. STUMPF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

